Next in New York Times bestselling author Denise Swanson’s chef mystery books, Dani Sloan will have to solve the murder of a bride to clear her crush’s name. Once again, it looks like Dani will get a slice of the action…This yummy series is:Perfect for Fans of Kate Carlisle and Gayle Leeson
For readers of culinary cozy mysteries and small-town cozy mysteries
In the small town of Normalton, IL, … mysteries
In the small town of Normalton, IL, there aren’t a lot of opportunities for small business owner Dani Sloan to cater big-ticket events. But that’s about to change—a client named Yvette Joubert is marrying Franklin Whittaker, the richest guy around, and they want Dani to cater their engagement party! The swanky event is the perfect opportunity to put Dani on the map for wealthier clients.
But when a storm hits the party after guests arrive, it becomes clear that more than the dinner is ruined: Yvette is found dead beneath the marquee. Is her death a tragic accident, or a perfectly orchestrated murder? Then the case gets even juicier—it turns out that Yvette’s ex-husband is Spencer Drake, Dani’s almost-boyfriend, and the police start circling. Now Dani must follow an unending list of clues to save her business, her better half, and catch a criminal. Let’s just hope they get their just desserts!
The third installment of the Chef-To-Go series, Winner Cake All, is full of small-town charm, delicious desserts, and an exciting investigation. Denise Swanson’s bestselling mysteries will keep you guessing until the end!
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Winner Cake All is the third book in Denise Swanson’s Chef-To-Go Mystery series. Set in the college town of Normalton, Illinois, the protagonist, Dani Sloan, runs a catering, personal chef, and lunch-to-go business with the help of her three boarders, Ivy, Tippi, and Starr. Dani is hired to cater the engagement party of the wealthiest man in town, Franklin Whittaker, and his obnoxious fiancée, Yvette, who also happens to the ex-wife of her boyfriend, Spencer. During the party, Yvette is murdered and there’s no shortage of suspects, including Dani and Spencer. Hoping to solve the murder, they both decide to do some sleuthing.
This is a great addition to the Chef-To-Go Mysteries. I’ve been a fan of this series since the beginning and have enjoyed spending time with Dani and seeing her business flourish and the relationships in her life develop. I like the cast of characters, the college town setting, and the mouthwatering food descriptions. The mysteries are always engaging and the culprits are not obvious. Dani’s kindness and compassion make it easy for readers to like her and root for her. This series is also told from Spencer’s perspective, which I enjoy. I think it’s a great way to get to know him better and see what his life is like outside of his relationship with Dani, plus his side stories are always interesting.
All in all, this is a fun culinary cozy mystery series, and I definitely recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love this series!
I loved this latest installment in the Chef-to-Go mysteries. Well-developed characters, a relatable protagonist, and fun, twisty plots have made this series one of my absolute favorites. Bring on the next one!
WINNER CAKE ALL by Denise Swanson is the third book in the Chef-to-Go Mystery series. It’s the wonderfully, well-written cozy mystery about Dani Sloan, her Chef-To-Go catering business, and her largest to date catering job – Yvettte Joubert and Franklin Whittaker’s engagement party.
Yvette is a very opinionated bride to be with definitely thoughts on what she wants and demands her ideas to be fulfilled to the letter. With a free hand with financial backing provided by her finance, the richest man around owning of over 60 businesses including the baseball team Korn Kings, this will be THE party to outdo all parties with no expense spared. From the very beginning Dani can see that this job will be challenging, but doable – even when the party is moved up to just a week away causing her to double her normal fee. This is exactly the type event Dani needs to get her foot in the door for more bookings with wealthy clients.
Things take on a strange twist when Dani finds out that the bride-to-be is actually the ex-wife of Spencer Drake, the man who she is seeing and is rapidly becoming romantically attached to. For the sake of her business, Dani knows she can keep her personal and professional life separate.
The night of the engagement party is charged with excitement equally matched with the night’s weather. The storm quickly proved it was in control sending the event tent caving in on its occupants causing destruction and injury. When help arrives, not only did they find people in need of medical attention, but they also found the body of Yvette. When it’s soon apparent that her injuries were not from the collapsing tent and classified as a homicide, both Dani and Spencer are initially considered prime suspects.
Can Dani help to find the clues to get both Spencer and herself off the suspect list? Will the engagement party put her catering company on the elite party map or wipe her business out? How does Brock, Spencer’s once best friend until he slept with his ex-wife, figure into the murder after he’s spotted in town? Will Spencer’s jealousy affect his ability to work with the police department? What was the motive for the murder – revenge, hatred or Yvette just getting her due? Along the way of the investigation can the relationship between Dani and Spencer bloom or will it also become a victim of fall out damage from Yvette’s murder?
WINNER CAKE ALL will keep you turning pages as you try to figure out the whodunit. Along the way, Denise Swanson will have you enjoying the bubbling romance brewing between Dani and Spencer, falling in love the amazing characters that live in Normalton, Illinois like Dani’s renters – Ivy, Tippi, and Starr, laughing at some of the fraternity hijinks involving university mascots, Hamlet and Oinkphelia, and tug heart strings for Dani when her father makes an unannounced trip back into her life. Although part of a series, WINNER CAKE ALL can definitely be read as a standalone. I have not read the other books in this series and found it very easy to figure out the dynamics of who was who making me feel right at home in Normalton. I will anxiously be waiting for the next book in the series to see what all Dani can get into, who her next catering job will be and how the romance between Dani and Spencer continues. In the meanwhile, I’m going to check out the first two books in this series. Recommend this to anyone that loves cozy mysteries, a fact paced story that will keep you turning pages or just want a great feel good book to read.
Thoughts: I haven’t read this author before but will be looking for more of her books. I had a little trouble getting into the story…it was a little slow for me and the multiple points of view (instead of just the main character) was a little different. But once I got into the story, I did enjoy it. All the cozy mystery tropes are there: (relatively) small town, amateur sleuth, lots of friends to help with clue-finding, friend in jeopardy, and more. The clues are there, but the villain isn’t obvious. Also, even though I haven’t read the first two books in the series, it wasn’t hard to follow who was who and the relationships among all the characters. In this book, there are actually a couple of mysteries going on—the main one (who killed Yvette) and a secondary one (who is attacking college students where Spencer works and pinning them to the walls).
What I liked: the characters are well done and easily relatable. Dani was fed up with her corporate life and downsized to run her own catering business—which seems to be doing well. Spencer is a good counter for her with his own background issues. And the girls who live with Dani are fun. They keep the age level from being too one-sided and add another layer to the story. The ending was satisfying, solving the mystery while leaving threads dangling so you know there is more to come.
What I didn’t like: very little. It’s a sweet cozy mystery—though told from two points of view (Dani and Spencer) which makes it a little different than others. It does get a little slow sometimes and usually, with a “food” cozy, there are recipes included which there aren’t here. So some things that make it different than others. But that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Recommendation: If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out as well as others by the author.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in hopes of an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone.
What a fun and well-written cozy mystery. The characters were interesting and Jerrod me engaged. I really liked Dani alot. The mystery kept me guessing….and the recipes sound delicious. This is a new author for me, but I plan on checking out her other books.
I received a copy of this book via Sourcebooks Early Reads Program. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
Dani wants to grow her catering business beyond her chef-to-go and lunch box talents. Being in a small university town, there isn’t much call for big ticket catering gigs. Soon that may change with one event that could put her business in the black for a year. The wealthiest man in town is getting married to Yvette, a drop dead gorgeous woman with the hint of a French accent (which sort of comes and goes). She wants to have some 400 people to attend their engagement party and the event is just two weeks away when she shows up at Dani’s house to meet her and maybe hire her. That’s very short notice but Dani does some quick math and decides she will be up to the task. Little does she know what is in store – she should have listened to her spidey senses. Homicide will be joining the festivities. There is, literally, a storm on the horizon.
During the party the weather turns nasty and the tent collapses. In the chaos somebody bumps off the obnoxious Yvette and boy, are there a lot of suspects. Too bad Dani and her new boyfriend are members of the list of suspects. Turns out that Spencer was once married to Yvette. The list is long and both Dani and Spencer set out to unmask the killer. The puzzle kept me interested every step of the way with enough twists, turns and red herrings to keep me guessing wrong. The small university town setting, not far from Chicago and the people in Dani’s life were perfect. Ms.Swanson has written four mystery series that I have enjoyed – Scrumble River, Devereaux’s Dime Store, Forever Charmed and Chef-to-Go and I will not hesitate to read her next mystery.
My thanks to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Dani Sloan has been wanting to add more catering gigs to her Chef-To-Go business so when she is asked to cater the engagement party of wealthy Franklin Whittaker and his bride-to-be Yvette Joubert she is excited for the opportunity. She has a very short lead-time but knows she can make it work. Plus with all the ritzy guests she is sure to line up more jobs.
Drinks are being served and appetizers are ready to go when a freak storm blows in and tumbles the party tent with the guests inside. Yvette is the only one who didn’t survive but is the storm responsible or did someone use the storm to try to cover up a murder.
The wonderful characters created by Ms. Swanson continue to develop naturally. Dani’s relationship with Spencer is moving just a little bit faster but he still has a bit of jealousy regarding Gray. A twist in this story may have Dani a bit jealous too. Ivy, Tippi, and Starr are all having relationship issues. Dani is unsure at first whether to “meddle” or let them handle things themselves. We know Dani well enough by now to know the answer. Dani also has a surprise visitor that answers some lingering questions I have had.
The murder mystery is very intriguing and one suspect hits very close to home making Dani truly invested in finding out what happened and why to Yvette. Sadly, she puts herself in danger. I loved the twists and turns and following along with Dani, Spencer, and Gray. I was entertained by the way all was revealed.
What I really enjoy about this series is the family feel that has grown between the characters. Dani does have to play the “boss” card occasionally but Dani, Ivy, Tippi, and Starr have become so much more than landlord and tenants.
This author also knows how to bring the funny. Spencer has a very special security detail on campus. The pranksters are out for fraternity and sorority pledge weeks. Her attention to detail also brings each scene alive. That storm was a doozy and I could almost feel that rain and wind.
Winner Cake All kept me captivated all the way. It can be read as a stand-alone but to appreciate all the character development you should read the series from the start.
Winner Cake All is one of my favorite newer series. Dani has inherited a mansion which has since a chef’s kitchen that she quits work and takes up her dream job as a chef. Three college girls live in the mansion while going to school and working for Dani. In this book, Dani’s newest client is getting ready to be married, starting with her rush engagement party. Interesting side stories evolve throughout the book.
I loved this book. The characters are great and set on a college campus there are always amusing activities going on. I highly recommend.
Winner Cake All by Denise Swanson is a Chef-To-Go mystery with minor crossovers from her popular Scumble River series. It is every bit as good as Scumble River with its protagonist being a chef who does personal cooking, and daily take away lunches as well as catering. It is a new business so there is plenty going on. Dani Sloan inherited this Victorian mansion from her grandmother’s sorority sister. With an apparent eye to the future she had already modernized the kitchen into the ideal place to run a catering business. The rest of the house held three college girls who also helped with the business as part of the rent, and rooms to be remodeled for additional eventual boarders. Everything is going well when a hug gig lands in her lap: an engagement party with promise of the wedding reception and related events. The party is anticipated to have 400 guests; the problem is its two weeks away, and suddenly gets moved up to one week. Dani puts her head down and pulls it off for a huge payday. The moment arrives-the party is in a huge tent, no the regular variety but windows, wooden floors, the whole nine-yards. This guy is rich. Tragedy strikes: there is a storm, a big one, and the tent collapses with people inside it. It seems everyone got out alive, with only minor injuries until the groom carries the body of the bride to the EMTs. She’s dead and it appears to be murder.
I must confess to being a hug fan of Denise Swanson. This series/book is as endearing as her Scumble River series with characters and a setting that is every bit as wholesome and endearing as it can be. Dani is not some lithe, gorgeous woman, she is petite but roundish and her boyfriend, Spencer loves her just as she is. She is a terrific housemother to the three college girls, protecting the, disciplining when necessary, and being there with words of wisdom. The setting is Normalton, Illinois, and its name could not be more appropriate. Her home is full of personality, and she is generous and giving, volunteering to cook for the local free dining room, where she also donates leftovers from her business. This is a wonderful new series; with everything a cozy reader needs, including murder. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Winner Cake All by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #winnercakeall
“Winner Cake all” features Dani Sloan who has given up her successful career in Human Resources and is running a catering business out of a house she recently inherited from a friend of her grandmother’s. It’s in a small college town in Illinois. She also has three college women boarding at the house.
Dani is approached to cater the engagement party of a woman named Yvette Joubert and her millionaire fiancée Franklin Whittaker. Dani is excited as this could be the event that could provide the exposure to make her new business successful even if she has to deal with Yvette’s whims and a two week (then one week) turnaround.
Dani has started dating the uncle of one of her boarders who is the Director of Security at the local college. While out for dinner with Spencer, they run into Yvette and she discovers that she and Spencer were divorced after a short marriage. Yvette had an affair with Spencer’s best friend. It appears she dumped him when he suffered an injury and had moved on.
The engagement party is held outdoors and a terrible storm hits. There is much damage and while there are many injuries, only Yvette is found dead. Dani assumes it was an accidental death and is surprised by the amount of questioning by the police and her suspicions are confirmed when she and Spencer meet back at her house after the police finally let her go. Spencer had looked at photos of Yvette on social media and believed he could see that she was murdered which is soon confirmed.
While Spencer and Dani are not suspects, Spencer did some undercover work infiltrating a nasty gang when he was in law enforcement and it is in his best interests to not have people poking in his past. Dani is in a position to observe, interact and ask questions so they compare notes and work toward finding the murderer. Lots of twists and turns until the ultimate unmasking of the murderer.
I enjoyed this book and even though it was the third in the series felt it could do well as a standalone, as it did for me. There were a few subplots that were distracting but nothing that detracted-not sure why they were included unless it’s a set up for a future book.
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Poisoned Press. Any opinions expressed are my own.
I like this and Denise Swanson’s Scumble River and Dime Store series. I just wish there was a bit more diversity between them. Plus size heroine, small Illinois town, two potential love interests (though this series is doing its best to say that’s not the case), former love interests of the male characters popping up, the love interest(s) being in law enforcement. granted that one make sit easy for bodies to pop up and for the main character to take an active role. The author even has some tie ins between the series.
Despite wanting more diversity than the jobs the main characters have, I did enjoy this story. It was different from the rest and we got to experience Spencer’s job which we haven’t in the other series as I recall. I also like Dani’s emotional maturity. there is potential for her to get upset with people to cause tension, but she acts like a 30 year old. The story also keeps you guessing whodunnit despite the limited pool of new characters.
So, a solid like from me.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.